A Prayer for Peace in Syria
O Prince of Peace, we come before you sinful and sorrowful.
We know that we are all guilty of hatred and contempt,
and yet we ask for your mercy and forgiveness.
In Syria, millions of our brothers and sisters are suffering greatly.
And it seems that their suffering may be increased by people
who themselves wish to bring peace to this land.
We know that it is you who turn our hearts to peace,
and so we ask you to turn your eyes to Syria,
so near the towns and villages where you grew up and ministered,
to look upon that Holy Land, and bring an end to violence.
Help us do all that we can, physically, morally, legally,
to support dialogue, foster reconciliation and promote justice.
End the terrible violence directed against so many Syrians
from so many places, and turn their hearts to forgiveness, compassion and love.
Open our own hearts to the needs of the millions of refugees.
Help us to see that they are our brothers and sisters in crisis,
for you were a refugee yourself once,
along with Mary and Joseph.
Most of all, let us not bring more violence and suffering
upon a people who have already suffered immensely.
Bring them peace, O Prince of Peace.
A Prayer to the Prince of Peace
Show Comments ()
3
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
Bruce Snowden
10 years 10 months ago
Beautiful Peace Prayer by Fr. James Martin, S.J. guaranteed to heal the human strife inflaming Syria, if only its message was endorsed by people in high places, contributors all to the strife. Beautiful "holy picture" of a Syrian Mom with her baby, imaging I imagine hair and skin tone of the Mother of Jesus and her Baby. May Mary, the "Untier Of Knots" as someone has said and also of "Nots" as in "Let's NOT Talk Peace," change hearts and minds and in the Name of the Prince of Peace, water-down the fires of hatred and mistrust. Bring them peace, O Prince and Mother of Peace!
Naji Arwashan
10 years 10 months ago
As Syrian people say: God bless your mouth!
Craig McKee
10 years 10 months ago
When, O Lord...?
How long, O Lord...?
Send your Spirit to enlighten the minds of stupid G20 leaders who still believe that WAR is good for the global economy and for garnishing political support back home!
The latest from america
Vandalizing another culture's sacred art is not a heroic act. It is an example of resistance to inculturation, part of the process by which the faith has become rooted in disparate cultures throughout history.
Georgetown professor Jacques Berlinerblau, an expert on secularism, argues Catholics should be wary of Louisiana’s new law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public classrooms.
A Homily for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, by Father Terrance Klein
“The Paradoxical Commandments” peal out a truth that no one wants to hear: Doing right is its own reward. And it was formulated by, of all people, a teenager.